Palm Springs is famous for sunny weather, Instagrammable music festivals, modern-mid century architecture, and also being the address to many celebrity homes. The popular desert oasis offered privacy well away from the Hollywood hills, making it an ideal sunny retreat to the rich and famous. From Frank Sinatra's Twin Palms Estate to Elvis Presley's Honeymoon Hideaway, these homes offer a glimpse into the city’s glamorous past and a stand as enduring testaments to Palm Springs’ unique architectural style.
In this guide, step into the world of Hollywood's golden era and walk through some of the most notable celebrity homes in Palm Springs with tips for planning your own self-guided tour, and how to respect the privacy of these historic residences.
Timeless allure in a desert oasis
The homes of Palm Springs are architectural marvels reflecting the city’s rich cultural heritage, tributes to the airy indoor-outdoor living afforded by the desert climate. Known for its sophisticated mid-century modern designs, a common theme among celebrity homes, the architecture harkens to the optimism of a post-war world.
Palm Springs' earliest days as a go-to celebrity getaway began in the 1920s. The Movie Colony and Old Las Palmas neighborhoods are famous for their celebrity residents. The city has been a holiday home to Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and Elizabeth Taylor, just to name a few. Today, their storied residences have become iconic landmarks that continue to offers a glimpse into Palm Springs' star-studded history.
Homes of the stars
Elvis Presley’s Honeymoon Hideaway
Recently showcased on Netflix’s smash hit, ‘Selling Sunset’, Elvis Presley’s honeymoon hideaway is a popular stop on a celebrity home tour–and for good reason. First leased by Elvis when he was 31, the house was deemed ‘the House of Tomorrow’ due to its many futuristic features for its time, including vacuum ports, an indoor kitchen grill, and wall-mounted radios. Designed by famed American architect William Krisel in the early 1960s, the retro-futuristic haven has been meticulously maintained, and the public can book public tours to experience it for themselves.
Frank Sinatra’s Twin Palms Estate
Mid-century style and luxury intersect at Frank Sinatra's Twin Palms Estate, where he and then wife, Nancy Barbato soaked up the sunshine. Sinatra commissioned architect E. Stewart Williams to build the four-bedroom retreat in 1947 with exquisite details reflective of the era. Wrap-around sofas and the infamous piano-shaped swimming pool out back feel trapped in time. And if you’d like to live like Sinatra, the entire estate is available for short-term rental–imagine the parties.
Elizabeth Taylor’s Palm Springs Oasis
The legendary star’s legacy lives on in her modern Palm Springs home where she resided for over a decade later in her life. Originally built in 2001, Taylor commissioned close personal friend and former supermodel Kathy Ireland to design the place. Spanning a sunny half-acre in the Old Las Palmas neighbourhood, the four-bedroom home extends over 4,000 sq ft of modern and minimal elegance. The waterfall-fed pool with its open-air cabana is exceptional and exactly what we think elevated Palm Springs living should be.
Looking for more Palm Springs luminaries? Here are some additional stars who called Palm Springs home: Barack and Michelle Obama, Marilyn Monroe, Nat King Cole, Dean Martin, Bob Hope, Brad Pitt, Liberace, and Sia.
Touring celebrity homes on your own
Self-guided tours offer the most bespoke means to explore the celebrity homes of Palm Springs. You can set your own pace and schedule, and extend your time at the properties you want to enjoy. Visit the Palm Springs Visitors Center for a bevvy of resources and maps to help plan your tour of the most recognizable homes.
If you’d like to sit back and let the professionals show you the highlights, there are plenty of options for grand tours of Hollywood’s Playground. Take a seat on a comfortable air-conditioned tourbus with fellow visitors and let the expert guides provide you with plenty of colourful commentary and lore while visiting the homes, and learn loads more about the architecture, heritage, and history.
Looking to begin a new chapter in Palm Springs? Connect with one of our Palm Springs advisors to help navigate the housing market and your home-buying journey.
